“Of course there is,” Mom said quietly. “And don’t try to convince us otherwise. If there is to be any hope, then we need you to find it. You know that. Everything counts now.”
Gary sighed. “I know.”
“Why isn’t anyone telling me what’s going on!”
“Like you told us when you were leaving?” Dad asked.
“Boom,” Tiggy said, offering my dad a fist bump, which he gladly accepted.
“You guys suck,” I muttered. “I’m a wizard. You don’t get to—”
“Apprentice,” Gary coughed.
I grinned smugly at him. “Not anymore, dude, so bite me.”
Gary screeched to a halt. “Say what?”
“No longer can you interject apprentice into conversation with a ridiculous pseudocough. I am full-on hard-core wizard now.”
“Whoa,” Tiggy said. “For true?”
“For true, my height-advantaged friend.”
Gary was immediately in my space again, nostrils flaring as he pressed his nose against mine. I went a little cross-eyed trying to focus on him. “Hi,” he panted heavily.
“Um. Hi?”
“You’re not an apprentice anymore?”
“Nope.”
“Big-time wizard.”
“Yep.”
“Not Sam of Wilds?”
“Nope.”
“Sam of….”
“Dragons.”
“Huh. That’s sexy.”
“Thank you.”
“I might be attracted to you.”
“Uh.”
“You might want to keep checking your mail.”
“For….”
His mouth pressed against my chin. “For your invitation to the grand reopening celebration of my bakery.”
I shoved his face away as he cackled. “I will not go to your grand reopening celebration, you foul beast.”